Prospect Hughes spends quality time in Bronx

NEW YORK -- Phil Hughes got a September callup of sorts, but Yankees fans will have to wait until at least next year before they see the phenom sporting a uniform in a Major League game.

Hughes, along with Double-A Trenton teammates J.B. Cox and Tyler Clippard, were invited to spend three days in the Bronx with the big-league team, though they were not permitted to sit in the dugout since they are not on the active roster.

The trio spent time in the clubhouse, worked out with the team, shagged fly balls and even threw a bullpen session for pitching coach Ron Guidry.

"It's cool," said Hughes, who had been to Yankee Stadium, but never in the clubhouse. "All of the history and the players who have been in here, to be one of the few to be here -- even if you have to double up in a locker -- it's fun."

Hughes' first season with Trenton couldn't have gone any better, as the 20-year-old went 10-3 with a 2.25 ERA in 21 starts. Hughes started the year with Class A Tampa, going 2-3 despite a sparkling 1.80 ERA in five starts.

In 146 total innings, he allowed 92 hits and walked 34, striking out an impressive 168. He also starred in his only postseason start, striking out 13 batters in six innings.

"I made every start, which was huge for me," said Hughes, who had been plagued by minor injuries in 2004-05. "I improved on things I really wanted to beyond my numbers and wins."

One of those things was working on his offspeed pitches, especially his changeup.

"Developing those other pitches will be a huge step for my career," he said. "I feel like I've done that now, so I'm looking forward to the future."

While some young pitchers might be frustrated by a club limiting the number of innings he throws, Hughes was on board with the Yankees' plan for 2006. He was lifted after five or six innings in several games, regardless of his pitch count, as the organization is doing its best to protect his golden arm.

"I wasn't worried about going out there for seven innings every time, I just wanted to develop," said Hughes, who threw just 86 1/3 innings in 2005. "I got a fair amount of innings in. ... Once I hit my previous inning high, it felt like I actually hit a second wind and was able to keep going. I felt stronger toward the end of the year, so I was very pleased with that."

"He has been pretty special," Joe Torre said. "They cut back his innings at the end for obvious reasons. You never really know with youngsters on the workload part of it. He had a terrific year."

Hughes and Cox spent Spring Training in big-league camp, so walking into the Yankees' clubhouse wasn't as foreign for them as it was for Clippard. When general manager Brian Cashman asked Torre if the three pitchers could hang around for a few days, the manager thought it was a good idea.

"He thought it would be good just to sort of get them into this clubhouse," Torre said. "Spring Training is one thing, but the championship season is something else -- just to give them a feel of what it's like in New York."

Hughes represents the rare Yankees prospect who proved to be untouchable, no matter how many teams inquired about his availability. Cashman said dozens of times that the right-hander was not available at the trade deadline, something that was music to the pitcher's ears.

"It's a very good feeling to know that the organization that drafted you wants to keep you around," Hughes said. "Without proving anything at the big-league level, that I still mean that much to them is a very encouraging feeling.

"Everything I heard was that I was going to stay here," he added. "It was where I wanted to stay, so I was very pleased."

Hughes won't pitch at all this winter, giving his arm a rest for a few months. He bought a condo in Tampa, so he'll be able to work out at the team's training complex, preparing for another spring in Major League camp.

What happens after that? Hughes will likely wind up with Triple-A Columbus when the season opens, but he's not ruling out a direct route to the Bronx.

"I'm not sure what to look forward to," Hughes said. "I'm going to go into Spring Training and try to make the club. Whatever happens, happens."

"I think you certainly look a very long look at him in the spring, then you make a determination on what's best for him," Torre said. "He's made so much progress this year and you want to make sure that you don't do anything to go backwards."

This season has been the year of the rookie pitcher in the American League, with young hurlers such as Justin Verlander, Francisco Liriano, Jered Weaver, Jonathan Papelbon and Matt Garza playing key roles for their teams. That only makes Hughes more anxious to reach the Majors, where he should eventually own a spot in New York's rotation.

"It's encouraging to see guys you've seen in the Minors [pitching in the Majors]," Hughes said. "I pitched against Garza in high-A and Double-A, and now he's doing fairly well. Guys like Verlander and Liriano, they're having success and they're young, so you can see yourself in the same situation."

It's only a matter of time.